Japanese prime minister to rule with minority government

TOKYO (CNN) -- Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto
easily won a second term in office Thursday, but his biggest
challenge is just beginning: ruling the nation with a
minority government.

Hashimoto received 262 votes in the 500-member lower house of
Parliament, largely due to a loose alliance his
conservative Liberal Democratic Party formed with its old
allies, the Social Democrats and the tiny Sakigake party.

In lower house elections last month, the LDP failed to secure
a majority. But no party, not even its former coalition
partners the Social Democrats and Sakigake, will agree to
formally join a new coalition.

"The main reason why (LDP is) having difficulties finding
partners is because everybody knows the decisions that will
be made over 12 to 24 months will be very, very difficult
decisions," political analysts Keith Henry said.